Effect of Combined Use of Lecithinized Superoxide Dismutase (PC-SOD) and Methylprednisolone (MPSL) on the Interstitial Pneumonia Model Induced by Bleomycin in Mice

Abstract

We studied the effect of the combined use of lecithinized superoxide dismutase (PC-SOD) and methylprednisolone (MPSL) on the interstitial pneumonia model induced by bleomycin in mice. PC-SOD, which is made up of 4 lecithin derivative molecules covalently bound to the recombinant human Cu, Zn-SOD dimer, shows a high affinity for cell membranes and a longer plasma half-life. Treatment with PC-SOD at 1 mg/kg plus MPSL at 0.03 mg/kg and PC-SOD at 10 mg/kg plus MPSL at 0.03 mg/kg significantly reduced the hydroxyproline content compared with the control (treatment with 5% xylitol). And treatment with PC-SOD at 1 mg/kg plus MPSL at 0.03 mg/kg significantly reduced the hydroxyproline content compared with treatment with PC-SOD alone at 1 mg/kg. These results demonstrated that the combined use of PC-SOD and MPSL was more effective than use of PC-SOD alone, and it suggested that the 0₂^- scavenging activity of PC-SOD and the anti-inflammatory activity of MPSL cooperatively suppressed the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.